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A tour of Wigmore Castle
Stepping into the past
Recently in August 2020, I was lucky enough to get the chance to visit Wigmore castle, home of the medieval Mortimer family. Wigmore is sadly in a severely neglected and dilapidated state, having been abandoned to the ravages of time and mother nature. The wooden steps up to the keep have now rotted away and the paths are overgrown with vegetation. Access to the keep is by fighting through weeds, but those who do make the effort will be rewarded with magnificent views over the surrounding Welsh Marches. The castle is remarkably well situated to give commanding views over the whole landscape.
Here was where the Mortimers held court, where treaties were signed, marriage alliances brokered, and great banquets held. Looking out over the quiet and secluded landscape, with only birds and the wildlife for company, itâs quite hard today to imagine a castle in its prime. This would have been a busy place, brimming with activity. Lord Mortimer would ride out at the head of his retinue, and upon his return, one imagines a sudden flurry of activity, as servants, cooks, groomsmen and sentries were all hurried into action. There would have been great hunts in the forests nearby, to supply meat for the castle table. A great boarâs head perhaps, to celebrate an important victory. Outside the castle, the landscape would have been quite wild to our eyes. Though the valley was mostly cleared of trees and dotted with small farms, rivers ran unobstructed, while wolves still lived in the dense Welsh woods close by.
The castle ruins
Surrounding Wigmore castle is a thick curtain wall, with concentric stone towers guarding its corners. Due to their strong foundations, it is these towers that have best survived the weathering of the past half millennium. Entry to the castle is through a large, well defended gate house, the only entrance in ancient times. Another exit might have been through a small, hidden doorway allowing the garrison to sally out of the castle. Around the inside of the curtain wall, wooden buildings were built right up to the edge of the stonework. These would have included the stables, blacksmiths, fletchers and other such quarters. Evidence for these among other parts of the castle has been unearthed in archaeological digs.
From the castle it is possible to see the village of Wigmore, and the remains of Wigmore Abbey in the distance, where nearly all members of the medieval Mortimer family were buried. With the glistening towers of Wigmore Castle looking over both the abbey and village, this whole setting would have been quite a site indeed!
Here begins our tour of Wigmore.
Related articles
Read more about the medieval Mortimers and their exploits in the Welsh Marches.
The Mortimers of Hatfield Peverel
Origin of the family
That the Mortimer family of Hatfield Peverel, Essex were originally from Devon is without a doubt. The names of the early generations bear a very close resemblance to the Mortimers of Bow, and Mark Mortimer even mentions his property in Bow in his will dated 1685. Markâs brother, Peter Mortimer, was born in 1630, Bow. The description of Mark Mortimerâs family begins here.
Mark Mortimer of London (c.1625-1685)
Mark Mortimer was born in Bow, Devon, in the mid 1620s, an elder son of John Mortimer, yeoman, and his wife Charity, nee Discombe, who married in 1620. He was presumably apprenticed in London around the year 1640, and became a grocer. He evidently achieved significant success in the grocery trade and built up his fortune, acquiring property in London and Hertfordshire. He married Abigail Walmesley, 3 Oct 1651, in St Ann & St Agnes parish, London. Their children were John c.1656 and Peter b. 1661. Mark Mortimerâs heir was his son John, as all other children died young. He made a will 4 Jun 1685, mentioning his wife Abigail, John his son, Peter his brother, and Peterâs two sons. He mentioned property he had in Bow, Devon, and left money to the poor of the parish of Bow.
John Mortimer of Toppinghoe Hall
John Mortimer was born in the mid 1650s, named after his paternal grandfather John Mortimer of Bow. He was brought up in London or nearby and received a commercial education. He entered into the mercantile profession and became a prosperous merchant in London. In 1685, he inherited considerable property from his father Mark Mortimer, a grocer. He invested in property by buying the country estate of Topping Hall, Hatfield Peverel in 1693.
John Mortimer wrote about a wide variety of topics, particularly agriculture. His best known work being âThe Whole of Art of Husbandryâ, published in 1707. The work consisted of 15 books in one volume, forming a âlandmark in agricultural literatureâ. Mortimer continued to be cited in agricultural research for over two hundred years and his legacy was to be considered as one of the foremost agriculturalists of his time.
He married first in 1680, to Dorothy Cromwell, daughter of Richard Cromwell, and granddaughter of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector. She died childless the following year. He married secondly, 15 Jun 1682 in London to Sarah Tippets, daughter of Sir John Tippets. They had two children,
1. John (c.1684-bef.1736), who predeceased his father.
2. Margaret (c.1685-1761), who left a will dated 1760, which mentions her next of kin and their relationship.
Johnâs wife Sarah died in the late 1680s. John married thirdly Elizabeth Sanders (c.1665-1736), a Derbyshire heiress, 20 Feb 1689 at Saint Vedast Foster Lane and Saint Michael Le Querlo Church, London. They had the following children:
3. Samuel Mortimer of Toppinghoe Hall (c.1692-1759), who died unmarried and without children. The estate passed to his nephew Hans Winthrop Mortimer.
4. Elizabeth c. 1695, who married in 1723 Dr Theophilus Lobb, (1678-1763), a physician and medical writer.
5. Thomas d.1699
6. Cromwell Mortimer (1702-1752), named after the his fatherâs first wife Dorothy Cromwellâs family. He was a physician and antiquary, and member of the Royal Society. He married Mary, and had a son:
i. Hans Winthrop Mortimer (1734-1807). He became a property speculator and MP, sitting in the Commons between 1775-1790. He became very wealthy, possessing an income of ÂŁ6,000 a year and a fortune of ÂŁ30,000.
He sold the family estate of Toppinghoe Hall in 1768 and bought Caldwell Hall, Derbyshire, which remained his residence. Hans Winthrop Mortimerâs business ventures all ended in failure and he was driven into debt, even forced into debtors prison at the Fleet for a number of years. He married Ann and had the following children:
1. Anna Maria 1766
2. Harriet 1769
3. Hans Saunders Mortimer 1773-1846
4. Theodosia Frances Georgina 1775-1852, who married Valentine Green, 20 Jul 1796 St Pancras.
5. Charlotte Jemima 1777-1851, who married George Hanmer Leycester, 3 Aug 1796 St Pancras.
7. Mary 1703-1704
8. Thomas Mortimer (1706-1741), the youngest son of John Mortimer. He became principal secretary to Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls. He married a lady called Ann, and had a son and daughter:
i. Thomas Mortimer Esq 1730-1810
ii. Ann c.1733-, who married Thomas Willis, 31 Oct 1761, St Paulâs church Covent Garden, Middlesex. They had issue: Thomas Willis 1769, Ann Charlotta 1776, Ann Theodosia 1778-1854, & Elizabeth 1782.
Thomas Mortimer (1730-1810)
Thomas Mortimer was the only son of Thomas Mortimer, and was born 9 Dec 1730, Carey St., Lincolnâs Inn Fields, London. His father died when he was 10, and his mother died when he was 14. As minors, both Thomas and his sister Ann were left under the guardianship of John Baker of Spitalfields. He was sent to boarding school at Harrow, and then studied in a private academy. He learnt French and Italian and studied modern history.
Like his grandfather John Mortimer the agriculturalist, Thomas Mortimer became a well known writer, focusing on economic affairs. His longest work was âThe British Plutarchâ, published in 1762. He was made Vice-Consul for the Austrian Netherlands in 1762, on the recommendation of the Secretary of State. In 1768 he was dismissed from this post and returned to England to continue writing, also working as a private tutor. Mortimerâs publications included âEvery Man his own Broker; or Guide to Exchange Alleyâ, published 1761, and âDictionary of Trade and Commerceâ, published 1766.
He married firstly Elizabeth Whiteman, 13 Jan 1752, in Isleworth, Middlesex. They had the following children born in London. Interestingly, both John and George Mortimer moved from London to Devon, their ancestral homeland.
1. Esther (c.1754-aft.1827), who married a Mr Taylor, and had issue:
i. Anna Maria Taylor c.1779-1854, who married firstly William Whitwick (1774-c.1812), 5 Nov 1798, Albrighton, Shropshire, and secondly William Castell-Damant (1774-1841), 25 Aug 1815 Tettenhall, Staffordshire.
ii. George Taylor, fl.1827
2. John Mortimer of Bideford, Esq. b.1756
3. Elizabeth (1758-aft.1827) who never married.
4. Thomas Whiteman Mortimer b.1760
5. Anna Maria c.1761, who married Robert Porett Esq. (c.1755-1844), and had issue: Robert 1783, Anna Maria 1785, Elizabeth Theodosia 1786, Julia 1788, Henry 1791, Caroline 1794, Jane Harriet 1796, Emma 1798 (who perhaps married a Mr Collier), Octavia 1800, Mary Gertrude 1802 (who married her cousin Robert Mortimer.
6. George Mortimer Esq c.1763-1833, who became a lieutenant in the Royal Marines. In 1791 he went on a voyage round the South Seas in HMS Mercury, commanded by John Cox, Esq., as part of a British and Swedish mission against Russia. He wrote an account of the voyage published in 1791. George Mortimer married a lady called Mary, but had no issue. He made a will dated 1833, mentioning his various relatives including cousins in the Willis family. He resided at Wellinghouse, otherwise called Sandy Park House, in Drewsteignton, Devon, where he died in 1833 or the following year.
Thomasâ wife Elizabeth died and Mortimer remarried to Louisa Brun, a spinster, 14th Aug 1793, St Marylebone, Westminster. They had the following children. Thomas Mortimer died 31 March 1810 in Clarendon Square, London.
7. Georgiana Maria 1801-1870, who married Edward William Tuson, 20 Nov 1827, St Pancras church, London.
8. William Henry Mortimer Esq. 1803-1887, who became a doctor in medicine, and practised as a surgeon and dentist. He married firstly Edith Mary Tuson, 7 May 1842, Bathwick St Mary, Somerset. They had two daughters:
i. Helen Edith Mortimer b.1848, who emigrated to Canada and married George Bridges
ii. Alice Mortimer b.1850.
His first wife Edith died and William remarried secondly to Emma Louisa Matthews (1849-1937), 19 Jan 1881, Sutton St Nicholas church, Surrey. William Henry Mortimer died 16 Aug 1887, Fernwood Sutton, Surrey. Probate was granted to his widow Emma Louisa, who survived him by another 50 years.
John Mortimer of Bideford, Esq. (1756- )
John was the eldest son of Thomas Mortimer Esq., a well known writer. He was baptised 31 May 1756, St Clement Danes, Westminster. He married Jane Ratcliffe, 11 Feb 1790, at St John the Evangelist church, Smith Square, London. They then moved to Bideford, Devon and had the following children born there.
1. John Henry Mortimer (1791-1827), who became a lieutenant of the Royal Marines. He married Susanna Daniel (1791-1868) on 14 Apr 1817, in her home parish of Lostwithiel, Cornwall.
They had five daughters both in Lostwithiel, their youngest child and only son John was born in Plymouth. John Henry died shortly after the will of his uncle George Mortimer Esq., and was bur. 30 Nov 1827. His children with Susanna were:
i. Jane 1818-1883 m. William Wilkins Stancomb (1824-1908) in 1850 Clifton, Bristol
ii. Elizabeth 1819, m. John Samuel Snook (1814-1871) in 1840 Honiton, Devon
iii. Mary 1820-1871, m. Richard Mortimer Ellis (1825-1893), on 21 Jul 1859 in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire
iv. Susan 1821, named after her mother, m. Edward Hillborne (1826-bef.1881), on 5 Sep 1849 in Lostwithiel, Cornwall
v. Emma Ratcliffe 1823, who emigrated to New Zealand, and m. Cyrus Davie (1821-1871). She was named after her paternal grandmother Jane Ratcliffe.
vi. John Mortimer of Sidmouth 1826Â
2. George Mortimer of Sidmouth (1793-1864), who like his uncle and namesake became a lieutenant in the Royal Marines. He married Elizabeth, and had one son:
i. William Basset Mortimer (1836-1873), who studied at Pembroke College, Oxford from 19 Feb 1856. He graduated with BA 1862 and MA 1865. He married Alice Victoria Stephenson, 11 May 1865, Bath Holy Trinity church, Somerset, however William died childless in 1873.
3. Thomas Mortimer of Braunton 1798-1866, who worked at the Civil Department of the Ordinance. He married and had children:
i. Elizabeth 1837
ii. Baker Porett Mortimer 1838-1854, named after his uncle Robertâs wife Mary Gertrude Porett.
iii. Thomas Willis Mortimer 1841-1899, who was a landowner and Annuitant in Braunton. He died without issue, and his heir was his nephew William Thomas Mortimer Hammond.
iv. Ann S. 1844
v. Emma 1846
4. Robert Mortimer of Barnstaple, a solicitor, who married his first cousin Mary Gertrude Porett (1802-1877).
John Mortimer I 1826-
John was born in Plymouth, and baptised 22 Nov 1826, St Charles the Martyr parish. His father died shortly after his first birthday, and his mother Susanna cared for the family. He was apprenticed to a druggist in Exeter, and achieved proficiency in the trade, then moving to Sidmouth.
He married Elizabeth Hillborne (1827-1912) 27 Jul 1852, in East Budleigh, Devon. Elizabeth was born 4 Oct 1827 into a landed family, her brother Edward Hillborne married Susan Mortimer (see above). A few years later the family moved to Bristol, then on to Christchurch, Gloucester, where John Mortimer continued to practice as a chemist and druggist. John Mortimer and Elizabeth his wife had the following children:
1. Harry Mortimer 1860-1937, clergyman of Bideford, m. Charlotte Guppy 1893, Falmouth, they had a son Tom Mortimer, clergyman (1896-1984)
2. Edward Mortimer 1862, a clerk in holy orders, m. Ellen Snell Maria Merrick (1866-1928), 28 Jul 1890, Bishopston, Gloucestershire, and they had the following seven children. Unusually all four sons of combat age survived the war.
i. William John Mortimer 1880-1970
ii. Stanley R. B. Mortimer 1889-
iii. Edward Granville Mortimer 1891-1971
iv. Violet Cicely Mortimer 1893-1979, m. Norman Bing Fookes 1888-1972, 1923 Somerset
v. Arthur Hillborne Mortimer 1895-1953
vi. Mary 1898
vii. Betty Christine Mortimer 1904-1990, a nurse, who m. Reginald A. Evans 1940, Bristol
3. John Mortimer II 1866, a bank manager, m. Florence Maud Mary Hartnell, 16 Sep 1895 Bristol, and they had the following children:
i. Lionel Mortimer 1897-1972
ii. Alan Hartnell Mortimer 1901-1965
iii. Norah Hillborne Mortimer 1902-1996, m. John Gerrish 9 Sep 1931.
iv. John Mortimer III b.1908
v. Prince Mortimer 1911
4. Lionel Mortimer 1868-1871
5. Arthur Mortimer 1870-1944
The family continues in the male line, through the sons of John Mortimer b. 1826. There are now many descendants of the family.
The Mortimers of Bow
Origins
The Mortimers of Bow were presumably closely related to the Mortimers at Sandford or Tedburn St Mary.
The earliest member of this branch was Mark Mortimer of Bow (c.1550-1621), who married at Colebrooke, and who was presumably related to the earlier Mortimers at Colebrooke.
John Mortimer of Colebrooke (c.1500-1559)
John Mortimer first appeared in the 1524 Devon Lay Subsidy under Colebrooke, near Crediton, where his income was assessed at ÂŁ7, in goods, suggesting he was a yeoman. He also appeared in the 1543 Lay Subsidy, with income dropping only ÂŁ1, to ÂŁ6, suggesting that the two entries for John are the same individual. John died in 1559, and was bur. 14 Feb 1558/9. John left a will, which abstract survives in the College of Arms, but is still to be examined. It is hoped that reading such a will could reveal his family connections. He presumably had a son, the following Thomas Mortimer, and other children. His wife may have been Christian Mortimer, bur. 1569 Colebrooke.
Thomas Mortimer of Colebrooke (c.1520-1573)
Thomas was presumably born before 1524, and first appears in the 1543 Devon Lay Subsidy for Colebrooke, with income of ÂŁ4 in goods. His income at this time was less than his father, John Mortimer, though he presumably inherited his fatherâs goods after his death in 1559. Thomas died in 1573, and was bur. 13 Feb 1572/3. He left a will, which transcript survives in the College of Arms. Thomas perhaps married Joan Mortimer, who was bur. 1579. His children were perhaps the following:
1. John Mortimer, d.1588, who may have been the eldest son, so named after his paternal grandfather.
2. Mark Mortimer of Bow
3. Mary, m. 1575 Colebrooke to William Frost
Mark Mortimer of Colebrooke (c.1550-1621)
Mark Mortimer was b. around 1550. He married Elizabeth Westway, the 7 Feb 1573/4 at Colebrooke. Mark Mortimer and his family lived at Bow, otherwise called Nymet Tracey. In the 1581 Devon Lay Subsidy he paid tax on an income of ÂŁ4 in goods. He married for a second time on 4 Jun 1603 Zeal Monachorum, to Ann Underwood. The parish records for Bow do not begin until the 17th century. He probably had the following children with his first wife Elizabeth.
1. Thomas Mortimer of Bow (c.1577/1621), who was presumably a son of Mark m. 1574, but whose life details remain unknown. He left a will dated 1621.
2. John Mortimer of Bow
3. Robert Mortimer of Bow (c.1583-c.1633), who m. Ann Ascott, 25 Oct 1611, Bow. They had a daughter Mary b. 1615, Bow, and possibly other children. He was absent from the 1642 Protestation Oath list for Bow, and presumably died before then.
4. William Mortimer of Bow (c.1586-c.1650), who featured in the 1642 Proteststion Oath for Bow. He had the following children by an unknown wife:
i. Catherine 1627
ii. Thomas 1629-1631
iii. William Mortimer II 1629
iv. Mary 1631
v. Wilmot 1637
5. Christopher Mortimer of Rewe (c.1590-c.1655), who m. Grace Shobrooke, 9 Jun 1624 Exeter St Sidwell. Christopher appeared in the 1642 Protestation Oath in Rewe, near Exeter. Christopher and Grace Mortimer had three daughters:
i. Sarah 1628
ii. Grace 1630
iii. Wilmot 1633
John Mortimer of Bow (c.1581-c.1655)
John Mortimer married Charity Discombe in 1620, at Bow. He appeared in the 1642 Protestation Oath at Bow. They had the following children:
1. Mark Mortimer of London and Chesham (c.1625-1686), father of John Mortimer of Toppinghoe Hall, Esq.
2. Christopher Mortimer of Exeter (1627-c.1680), presumably named after the earlier Christopher Mortimer c.1590-, who was probably a member of this family. He married and had the following children in Exeter. Christopher Mortimer might have died before 1685, and was not mentioned in his brother Mark Mortimerâs will.
i. Ann 1650
ii. Christopher Mortimer II 1659
iii. Joanna 1665
iv. Ann 1674, who was presumably the daughter by a second marriage.
3. Peter Mortimer of London (c.1630-aft.1685), who married Margaret Loringer in 1662. They had the following children in London:
i. Peter 1663-c.1665
ii. Mark 1664-1669
iii. Peter 1667
iv. John 1670-c.1675
v. Abigail 1672
vi. Margaret 1674
vii. Mark 1675
viii. John 1677
ix. Peter 1679-1681
x. Mary 1685-1689
4. John Mortimer b. 1633, of whom nothing further is known. He may have died young, or moved to Exeter or London.
The Mortimers of Coedmore
Life on the frontier
While the Mortimers of Wigmore were tearing through Wales as part of King Edward’s invasion of the late 13th century, another branch of the Mortimers had taken up residence in the far West of Welsh lands. This was an area settled by many such Marcher families, so beginning the annexation of Pembrokeshire which is reflected in a language border that can still be observed. The Mortimers gained an estate called Coedmore near Cardigan, building their chief residence at the New House, Coedmore. This branch of the Mortimers have male line descendants who continue to live in Wales to this day, one of the few Mortimer families who can definitively trace their heritage back to the Middle Ages. Moving west from Herefordshire, the Anglo-Norman Mortimers of Coedmore eventually naturalised as Welsh, intermarrying with Welsh families, choosing Welsh names for their children, and adopting the Welsh language.
Coedmore is now an estate in the parish of Llangoedmor, Cardiganshire, and the place name originally means Great Wood in old Welsh, from “mawr” large and “coed” – a wood or forest. The Coedmore estate is overlooked by the magnificent ruins of Cilgerran castle, which was rebuilt in stone by William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, son of the famous knight Sir William Marshall (1147-1219). Ralph Mortimer served in the first Earl Marshall’s household, and was evidently granted land for his feudal service. The Coedmore Mortimers took an active role in local affairs, and were successive constables of Cardigan castle. The associated between the Mortimers and Earl Marshall is reflected in the close proximity of Coedmore and Cilgerran. Coedmore was rebuilt in the 1700s and is now a hotel, while Cilgerran castle is owned by the National Trust and indeed well worth a visit.
The ancestor of the Mortimers of West Wales was Henry Mortimer, whose life remains shadowy. In 1241/2, Henry Mortimer was owed a debt by the heirs of Amauri de St Amand for lands in Herefordshire and Wales. Later, the Wigmore cartulary recorded that the bishop of St Davidâs granted to Sir Roger son of Henry son of Henry de Mortemer lands in Lyspraust and Isheylyn, which were probably in Wales somewhere. Henry would have been a younger son, but was unrecorded in the family chronicle of Wigmore Abbey, Fundatorum Historia, written in the 13th century.
The connection between the Wigmore Mortimers and the Mortimers of Cardigan, Wales was later affirmed sometime around 1290, when Maud widow of Roger de Mortimer released a portion of her dower lands to Roger Mortimer of West Wales, presumably son of the above Henry. In 1330, this Rogerâs grandson Roger Mortimer of Coedmore was named within a petition as a âkinsmanâ of the Earl of March.
The arms of the two families of Mortimers, those of Wigmore and Coedmore, differ remarkably. The Mortimer of Coedmore arms were variously described as two lions rampant armed and langued, with the colours of the field and charges differing by source. However, difference in heraldry during this time period should not be taken as supporting no connection between the families, as many such armigers changed their coats of arms in the 13th century, including the Mortimers of Bec, who were related to the Mortimers of Richardâs Castle.
Roger Mortimer of West Wales was given land in the commote of Gene’r-Glyn, confirmed by royal charter in 1284. He lived at Is Coed Is Herwen, now known as Coedmore, in a residence known as the New House. He was said in some sources to have been a constable of Newcastle Emlyn Castle and fought against Rhys ap Maredudd as one of Tibetotâs officers. [This is worth researching further]
Roger married a Welsh lady called Nest, and had a son Llewelyn who succeeded him, the first Mortimer to be given a Welsh name. Llewelyn was perhaps a younger son, whose older brother predeceased his father. He was brought up with a mixed identity and presumably learnt Welsh from his mother. Llewelyn arguably inherited a joint Norman English and Welsh identity, common to many who were descended from the conquerors of Wales. English nobles settled Wales following defeat of the last Welsh Prince Llewelyn and subjugation of the Welsh by Edward I. Llewelyn sold the estate at Gene’r-Glyn to Geoffrey Clement. The family home would later become the New House at Coedmore
Coedmore was ultimately only acquired by the Mortimers through slight of hand, which details are recorded in a charter dated 1330. Originally leased to Roger Mortimer for life, after Rogerâs death his heir Llewelyn Mortimer took possession of Coedmore and barred the original leasorâs heirs from entering. He sold half the moiety to Hugh de Cressingham, clerk of the king, and upon his death Coedmore reverted to the crown. The apparent original heir Eynon ap Gwilym sued and obtained writ of inquiry to the Justice of Wales in 1313, but Sir Roger Mortimer of Wigmore was Justiciar and apparently refused him justice, granting the estate instead to his âkinsmanâ Roger Mortimer.
A main source for assessing the ancestry of the Mortimers of Wales is the Heraldic Visitation of 1588, compiled by Lewis Dwynn. However, because it was made so long after the early individuals in the family tree had lived, and by that time many historical records had already been lost, several mistakes were made in the genealogy which now have proved very difficult to disentangle. These include missing generations, incorrect names, confusion between multiple individuals of the same name and confusion of spouses. References must be made to individuals who appear in the pedigree, whose floriat can be accurately determined. Only then will it be possible to pin down which generation married which partner.
The Mortimers of Coedmore had less wealth and power than the main line of Mortimers of Wigmore. It seems Roger Mortimer, aforementioned kinsman of the 1st Earl of March, was a missing link in the Visitation pedigree compiled in 1588. He had a son, Edmund Mortimer, whoâs heir was Roger Mortimer.
The younger Roger Mortimer was probably born in 1350, and owned Coedmore in 1383, when he acquired letters of protection to serve in the Calais garrison. References to his life are sparing. In 1396 he witnessed a gift of land in Cardigan, and served as Mayor of Cardigan in 1418, assuming it was the same Roger after a gap of nearly twenty years. He died in 1424, at which point he held half a knightâs fee in Coedmore. Roger was succeeded by his son Owain Mortimer.
Owain was probably born in the 1380s, or slightly later. He served as a man at arms in the Agincourt campaign of 1415, in the company of John ap Rhys. Like his father, he went on to serve as mayor of Cardigan three times from 1421. Evidently enjoying success as mayor, he was made Constable of Cardigan in 1441. He received a pardon for all offences committed in 1446, and leased the lordship and manor in 1454 to William Rede, clerk.
After Owain Mortimer, the 1588 pedigree loses its way and becomes unintelligible. Owain likely died around the mid 15th century, after which point there was another thirty years before the next evidence emerges of Mortimers active in Cardiganshire. Richard Mortimer, alleged son of Owain according to the pedigree, was mayor of Cardigan in 1480, and his children were also born around this time. Richard himself was probably born around or after the time of Owainâs death when he was already old, meaning there is another gap in the generations. Richard was obviously related to Owain, but was more likely a grandson, whose father perhaps predeceased Owain Mortimer, which might explain why such an individual is missing from the pedigree.
Unfortunately, the following generation is also hard to determine. Richard married firstly to Margaret daughter of Owain ap Rhys and had two sons, James and John. John was mayor of Cardigan in 1525, and died before 1542, fathering two daughters.
Richard married secondly Elizabeth daughter of Griffith ap Owain. In 1503, he made a settlement on his second wife, perhaps to guarantee her property after the children from his first marriage inherited.
James Mortimer was lord of Coedmore in 1542. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Rydderch ap Rhys, lord of Towyn (fl. 1483-1515). James might have been son of John Mortimer, d. bef.1542, and his eldest son was John, which might support the suggestion. If James was the eldest son of Richard, he would have been very old when he died, perhaps 80 years old.
John Mortimer of Coedmore (c.1525-1596)
James Mortimerâs son and heir John was probably born around 1525, and became Sheriff of Cardiganshire in 1576. He married Eva Lewis, daughter of Lewis ap David Maredydd, and they had at least eleven children:
1. Ellen c.1552
2. Richard Mortimer c.1554-1609
3. Elizabeth c.1556
4. David Mortimer c.1558-c.1605, who in 1584 held a lease of land in Castle Maelgwyn. He married Ann Thomas, daughter of William ap Thomas and they had seven sons:
i. John c.1580
ii. Roger Mortimer of Llechryd, gent., c.1581-aft.1609
iii. Richard c.1582
iv. Thomas Mortimer, of St. Davidâs c.1584- , who had two sons:
1. Edmund Mortimer of St. Davidâs, gent., c.1608-1666, who had the following children:
i. Thomas Mortimer c.1645, named after his grandfather.
ii. Lettice c.1650
iii. James Mortimer c.1655, named after his uncle
iv. Mary c.1656
v. Benjamin c.1659
2. James Mortimer c.1610-aft.1666
v. William c.1586, who probably married Lleukie Harvey and had issue Ann and James.
vi. George c.1590
vii. Rowland c.1592
5. Thomas Mortimer c.1559-c.1602
6. Joan c.1560
7. Pernel c.1561
8. Philip Mortimer c.1562
9. Mary c.1564
10. Owen Mortimer c.1566-1638
11. Ann c.1567
Richard Mortimer (c.1554-1609)
Richard was mayor of Cardigan in 1602. He married Catherine daughter of Rowland Meyrick, Bishop of Bangor. They had children James, Rowland, John and Lettice. Both James and John appear to have died before 1613, and Rowland inherited Coedmore.
Later generations
Rowland Mortimer married Cecil daughter of James Lewis of Abernant, 20 Mar 1617, and in that year sold Coedmore to his brother in law John Lewis. Rowland and Cecil has a son John Mortimer, of Laugharne, who married Catherine Pugh. Their son was Rowland Mortimer (c.1646-1691). He married Rachel and had sons Roger and John. Roger married another Rachel and their only child and heir was Jane Mortimer, c.1697. Many descendants of the Mortimers are living today, including through the younger sons of John Mortimer d.1596).
Unlocking the history of place names
 A closer look at place names
Every town or village in the UK has its own story to tell. Often just looking at a place name can reveal a snippet of interesting information about a location.
The British Isles has a collective heritage from thousands of years of settlement and invasion by various peoples. The first to pass their unique heritage to place names were the native Britons, or Celts, who originally came from Central Europe and were a part of a much wider movement of European peoples and sharing of culture during the Iron Age.
A quick background
The Celts settled all corners of the British Isles, and eventually divided into three groups, the Irish, the Picts in what is now Scotland, and the Britons who inhabited the regions of modern England and Wales.
Next came the Romans, who eventually conquered the lands of the Britons, but eventually merged with the native population, creating what is now seen as a distinct Romano-British culture. Hadrians Wall separated the Roman province of Brittania and Caledonia, which continued to be ruled by the Picts. The Romans called the island of Ireland Hibernia.
When the Romans abandoned Britain in 410 AD, huge changes were afoot. At the same time as the Barbarian invasions which ripped the Western Roman Empire apart, Britain witnessed wide scale migrations and civil strife, in an era now termed the Dark Ages, due to the lack of written records.
A tribe from what is now Cumbria in England moved South West and became the Welsh, while a tribe from Northern Ireland known as the Scots conquered the Picts and gave their name to Scotland.
Beginning in the mid 5th century, the Brits were terrorised by invading Germanic hordes from Northern Continental Europe- the Saxons, Angles and Jutes. The Saxons were most numerous but it was the Angles who gave their name to what is now England.
The Saxons converted to Christianity in the 7th century, and established the Anglo Saxon Heptarchy, a realm of seven different petty kingdoms which governed England.
However, the British Isles had not suffered the last of foreign invasions. The fearsome pagan Vikings marked their arrival in England by attacking the monastery at Lindisfarne, Northumbria, in 793 in a notorious raid now subject to legend. The Vikings made an indelible mark on the whole of Britain, and many other parts of Europe, which has stood the test of time.
This distinctive heritage from so many different cultures is what gives Britain its collective identity. Throughout the UK, place names can be observed which bear witness to the tumultuous events of Britainâs past. Here is a description of the different roots of British place names, by language or culture, that should help to discover what the origin is for the vast majority of British place names.
How places were named
Before the development of settlements, the early inhabitants of Britain simply gave names to noteworthy natural features, such as hills, valleys, mountains rivers, islands and shorelines. Original settlements were built in important strategic or trading locations, like on a river, the mouth of a river, a confluence, or on a hill or ridge overlooking surroundings. The development of a place name often combined names for multiple features, such as the mouth of a certain river.
The Britons
In ancient times the Britons inhabited the southern half of the island of Great Britain, what is now England and Wales. The Britons spoke the Common Brittonic language, which is represented today by Welsh, Cornish- a virtually extinct local language, and Breton, which is spoken in a very small part of Brittany, France. Brittonic place names reflect the ancient British landscape. The Britons had many different words for geographic features, including the hills, streams, valleys and woods which characterised the landscape.
The Brittonic word for hill was âbreâ, in Welsh is âbrynâ, while the summit of a hill was the âbenâ. Areas of upland were called âblenâ. The Welsh for slope is ârhiwâ. A valley was âcwmâ. A more narrow river valley might have been called âglenâ. The word âpenâ designated the headlands. Rivers were called âafonâ, like the river Avon. The source of the water was called âblaenâ while the mouth of a river was the âaberâ. A crossing or ford of the river would have been called ârhydâ. The Brittonic word for lake was âpolâ, and an island was âynysâ. Britain had retained many of its ancient forests, which woods were called âcoedâ. A thicketed area was âcadgwithâ. Descriptive terms applied to landscape features included âmawrâ for large, and âculâ for narrow.
After Roman colonisation, the Christian Romano-Britons built settlements and churches, but were pushed back by the Saxons into the fringes of Britain, Wales and Cornwall. Here their words for built features gave rise to many place names recognised today. Perhaps the most important of these was âllanâ, meaning parish, a small area centred around a church, which would have been the beating heart of any community. Villages were named after the patron saint of the parish church. Llan is probably related to the word for a group or community, reflected in the Scots-Gaelic word âclanâ.
The Britonsâ word for the church itself was âeglwysâ while a town was âdinâ or âtreâ. A monastery was âkilâ. A port was called âporthâ – indeed one of the English words which comes from Brittonic. Areas were often contested between the Welsh and Saxons, or between different Welsh tribes. In these areas, the Welsh built forts âdinasâ and military camps âcaerâ.
Irish and Scots
In Ireland, people spoke the ancient Gaelic language, which shared a root with Bretonic. The Irish Dal Riada tribe spoke Gaelic and conquered the Picts north of Hadrianâs Wall. These people were the Scots, who settled the country we now know as Scotland. Thus Scottish place names bear a certain resemblance to places in Ireland.
In Old Irish, the words for hill or upland areas were âardâ or âauchterâ, while âbenâ meant summit. âCragâ and âdrumâ meant the crags and ridges, so symbolic of the Scottish highlands. A rocky hill was âknockâ similar to the Bretonic word âcwnycâ. The Old Gaelic for valley was âglenâ, while âstrathâ signified a wider valley.
The Scots Irish shared the Gaelic word âavonâ for river with the Britons. Where a river reached the sea was called âinverâ. The Gaelic word for a lake or inlet was âlochâ, one of the few Gaelic words still in widespread use outside the language. Gaelic descriptive terms included âmoreâ, for large and âkylâ for narrow.
The Irish and Scots built churches and farms and these are a significant source of place names. Many of these words sound similar to Bretonic. The Gaelic for church was âeglaisâ, and a monastery was âkilâ. The Gaelic word âballaâ meant a farm or homestead. âAuchâ was the word for a field while a an enclosed field was a âgartâ.
Anglo Saxon
The Anglo Saxons came from what is now Northern Germany, in the region bordering Denmark. The word English comes from the Angles, who invaded the Southern part of Britain with the Saxons. The Anglo Saxons spoke Old English, a West Germanic language, itâs oldest literary attestation is in the 7th century. The Anglo Saxons eventually conquered all of what is now England and divided into 7 independent kingdoms. As a result, the vast majority of English place names have an Anglo-Saxon origin. The early Anglo Saxons belonged to many distinct tribes who settled in different areas and owned their allegiance to different rulers. They were Christianised in the 7th century following the Gregorian Mission of 597. The Old English for tribe was âingâ. Settlements such as Reading and Hastings are named after the Readingas and Hestingas tribes.
Many Old English words can be understood today. A hill was a âdeanâ while a valleys was called âdaleâ or âvaleâ. The Bretonic word cwm for a small valley was adopted into English as âcombeâ and described a small valley without a stream. âHopeâ meant an enclosed valley. The Old English for rocky or stony was âstanâ.
In Old English a river was called âaxâ, which can be observed with several rivers today, notably the Exe and Ax rivers in Devon. A âbeckâ meant a small stream, while a large stream was termed âbourneâ. A river was crossed at the âfordâ. Many towns developed where rivers met the sea at their âmouthâ, such as Exmouth, or Tynemouth. A lake was called âmereâ such as Windermere and an island âeyâ. The word for a swamp was âmossâ.
The Saxons had lots of words for wooded areas. The word âwoodâ features in many place names. A âshawâ meant thicket. The woodland edge was called âfirthâ and a wooded hill âhurstâ. In Old English, âwoldâ or âwealdâ denoted an elevated area of high woodland. The words for specific trees sometimes feature in place names, such as with âashâ, or âackâ for oak, which bears similarity to the word acorn.
The origin of the word home is in âhamâ which was short for âhampsteadâ or homestead. Likewise âsteadâ meant a home. A âcotâ meant a cottage. The Saxons often guarded their settlements. An enclosed home was called âworthigâ meaning warded place, which was shortened to âworthâ. Likewise âhaegâ, shortened to âeyâ meant enclosure. The word âhayâ destined places enclosed by a hedge.
The word town comes from the Saxon word âtonâ for settlement. A âstokeâ was a little settlement or village, dependant on a nearby town. A âburyâ or âboroughâ was a fortified town, originating from the old German word âburgâ meaning fortified. Most German towns built up around a castle end in this word. In Old English, the word for market was âchipâ, such as Londonâs Eastcheap. On the coast, âpoolâ meant a natural harbour, while a constructed wharf was called âhitheâ. The Saxon word âportâ continues in unaltered form. After the Saxon settlement some Roman military forts, âcastrumsâ, continued in use. In Old English, the Roman castrum was corrupted to become âcesterâ, forming a component of the many English towns with a Roman heritage, such as Gloucester and Chichester. Another English corruption of Latin was âwickâ from the Latin âvicusâ meaning trading place. Other influences of Latin on English place names include âstreetâ, and the words for âmagnaâ large, and âparvaâ small.
Though the Saxons invaded and attacked the Brits, they were also well known for their farming skills. Many Saxon place names derive from farms or fields. The Saxons settled areas and intermarried with local populations, also taking on some Bretonic words. A âleahâ meant a woodland area cleared for farming. âFarmâ and âfieldâ feature in many place names. The word âmeadâ evolved into the word meadow. The Saxons also kept âshepâ sheep, âswineâ pigs and âkineâ cows, which give place names a pastoral connection.
After the conversion of the Saxons to Christianity, religion continued to play an important role in daily life. The church was a centre of the community. Important monasteries were called âminsterâ, while âstowâ described a holy location or place of pilgrimage.
The words for multiple features of a place were often rolled into one. The most common elements of place names was the name for specific rivers and farms. A further way of differentiating places was by designating their direction. The words for directions were ânorâ North, âastâ East, âsudâ South, and âwesâ West. Examples include Northleigh and Southleigh in Devon. Most English place names developed by the 9th century, and words changed as the language evolved into Middle English, with more modern words like âmarketâ being added to places.
The Vikings began raiding the British Isles in the 8th century and were often in conflict with the Saxons. As well as ruling large parts of Scotland, the Vikings settled the East and North of England and ruled over an area known as the âDanelawâ, influencing place names in these areas. The Vikings spoke Old Norse which as a Germanic language had some similarities to Anglo Saxon (Old English). The Norse element in place names reflect the landscape features most important to the Vikings. In Old Norse the word for clearing was âthwaitâ while âHoweâ meant a mound. Ridges were called âriggâ and ravines âgillâ. The word for inlet was âfirthâ, and âwickâ meant a bay. Waterfalls were called âfossâ while âkeldâ meant a natural spring. In Old Norse, a âbostâ meant farm while a âtoftâ was equivalent to a homestead. The Norse word âtunâ for town was similar to the Saxon âtonâ. A village was called âbyâ, such as Whitby, and the Norse for road was âgateâ. A church was called âkirkâ.
What is the word origin of the town where you live? Post in the comments below!
Further reading:
Go a step further. Discover your surname origin!
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The origin of alias names
One of the most important historical inventions for genealogists was the advent of the surname. A surname provides one of the most important touchstones for family history researchers, effectively creating the foundation of genealogical research. The surname essentially acts as a name for a family or clan. At a basic level, the surname is passed from father to son through patrilineal inheritance, while wives take up their husbands name upon marriage. This approach of course would have seemed perfectly reasonable in an era when men held property, and all a wifeâs land or wealth was legally that of the husbands. However today there is room for a more nuanced approach.
Since the surname acts as a distinctive marker for relationships and family groups, it is sometimes assumed that all those with the same surname are perhaps related. However, often the same surname could have been established in different places, depending on its origin, leading to completely unrelated families with the same name, for instance, a smith in Northampton contemporary with a smith in Bristol. Smithing was an important profession and in medieval times there would have been a smith in every village!
The son will take on the name of his father. Sometimes though, this situation can be complicated. For a variety of reasons, sometimes individuals would usurp the expected trend and take on more than one name. They would be called for instance John Smith, otherwise known as John Taylor. This is known as an alias name. Alias names appear to be a phenomenon which began in late medieval England and have been the subject of historical research. Aliases often throw researchers. Other than assuming that a John Smith alias Taylor descended from both a smith and a tailor somewhere along the line of their family tree, it would be hard to place them in either family! Often the order of the combined names was reversed or either one was excluded in written records. The question is pondered – was their father a Mr Smith or a Mr Taylor?
Alias names may have come about for a variety of reasons.
1. Illegitimacy
Firstly, aliases could arise through illegitimacy. From the 16th century onward, convention developed that those children born out of wedlock took their mothers surname. Since the mother was unmarried it would have been legally challenging to confirm who the father was, even though the answer might generally have been known in the community. Only legitimate offspring could inherit property, and so it made no sense to take the fatherâs name unless they could inherit. This would have only been accepted if the marriage was later legitimised, for instance the issue of John of Gaunt and Katherine Roet. In the late Middle Ages, as surname use solidified, the matter was often left ambiguous. In such instance, the child would take on both their motherâs and reputed fatherâs names, going by both or either at various times, perhaps even maintaining friendly relations with both families. An illegitimate child could often expect little in the way of inheritance, but would be able to make a decent living if apprenticed to a worthy profession at a young age, later earning sufficient income to hold property of their own.
Surname Origins
Whatâs in a name?
One of the most exciting steps for family historians is discovering the original meaning of a surname, or how it came to be. Finding out a little about the very first progenitor of a family name can often be interesting, particularly for fellow family members. Surnames also continue to be a topic of interest to historical researchers, and British surnames have been the subject of numerous investigative efforts and catalogues over the years. British surnames can typically be classed into four different types. For the vast majority of such names, the original meaning has been evaluated and published, although some tricky names present a more difficult problem and are perhaps even subject to continuing debate. This article will explore classic British surnames, ie. names which came about in Britain during the Middle Ages. Names deriving from later global interactions and periods of migration falls outside the scope of this article. Here are the four main surname groups: What type is yours?
1. Patronymic
The most popular way of finding a surname in the Middle Ages was by taking the fathers name as an identifying name for the family, a patronymic. On a basic level this involved a son or daughter apending the fathers name to their own. In some more unusual cases, a person might take their mothers name as their last for instance Hester or Alice.
The use of patronymic surnames differed between the constituent countries of the British Isles.
In England, the convention was to pluralise the fathers name as a patronymic, such as Rogers. This name would thereafter remain fixed for each successive generation. The relative ease of pronunciation ultimately determined how a name would eventually sound. Jones is certainly easier to say than Johns. Jones is ultimately the UKâs most common surname, because John was by far the most popular male name in England over hundreds of years. Other examples of English patronymics include Williams and Davis.
The Old Norse naming style was for the son to take their fathers name as a second identifier, involving the fathers name with the addition of son after, for instance Bjorn Ragnarson. Women would be given a matronymic, and use the first name of their mother as their second name. This method lead to a different surname for each generation. The Vikings conquered large parts of England, and in areas under their control, this tradition continued past the end of the Viking era, leading to the development of names such as Johnson and Davison.
In the Norman naming tradition, patronymics would often be used to identify family relationships. A son would be known by his fatherâs Christian name, with use of the suffix âFitzâ a Norman corruption of the Latin âfilsâ, meaning âson ofâ. Fitzroy, as âson of the kingâ would have been the surname for a royal bastard. The Normans invaded Ireland, introducing Norman names there. Such names were eventually fixed in the Middle Ages and thereafter remained static. Surviving examples include Fitzgerald and Fitzpatrick, which are both associated mostly with Ireland.
In Wales, the patronymic tradition was followed throughout the Middle Ages, with a similar pattern to the Norman style. In Welsh, âApâ meant âson ofâ, so Owain ap Rhys might have been a son of Rhys ap Harry. Following increased English influence in Wales, Welsh surnames eventually fixed to match the English tradition. Distinctive Welsh names often begin with a âpâ due to the abbreviation of âapâ, leading to names such as Price and Parry following the example above.
In Scotland, people were named after the clan they belonged to. The origin of the Scottish clan derived from Mc or Mac, Gaelic for son of. Some examples include the famous clans of McKenzie and MacDonald. Clans did not exist along purely
2. Geographical
Geographical names are the second most common after patronymics. If someone didnât want to take their fatherâs name as their own, they might instead have to describe themselves by their place of abode or where they came from originally. The wide variety of possible landmarks lead to the emergence of many different geographic names. Many of the most popular were short and to the point. Examples include Hill, Mill, Hall, Lane, Wood, Orchard, Berry, Brooke, Lee and Combe. A variant of the geographic name was the combination of a place with a direction, such as with Underhill, Underwood. Such direction might have proved useful at the time, but such directions are far too vague to have any hope of pinning down a specific location today!
3. Locational
Locational names are much like geographic names but refer to the name of a specific place rather than the description of a locality. They derive from the name of a village, parish or specific property. This could be either a place of current residence, or where the individual was from originally. The Norman knights who participated in the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 took their names from their chief residence in Normandy. The Mortimers name was from the small village and castle of Mortemer in the Pays de Brays region of Normandy. Other Norman knightly families included the Warennes, de Clares, and de Veres, who gained hereditary Earldoms in England. Later in the Middle Ages, landowning lords of the manor would derive their name from their parish of residence. Evidence of this tradition can be seen in Gloucestershire, where existence of the Cam, Cowley, Stinchcombe and Slimbridge families shows a clear pattern for assuming the name of the manor in their possession.
4. Characteristic
Characteristic names derive from a description of the very first person to bear the name, and are the rarest type of British surname. This could have been a description of the persons appearance, like Black- someone with dark hair, or Armstrong- a stocky and well built person! Of course if someone was old and graying they might have been described as grey, or even white! Other interesting Characteristic names include Savage, Shakespeare and Ironside.
A note on the permanence of surnames
Many unique British surnames have disappeared altogether from the British Isles over the years. These include âChipsâ and âFootheadâ. Some names today are also rare and in danger of disappearing. The First World War caused the extinction of a number of English surnames, as the fighting caused the decimation of an entire generation of young men. Some very rare surnames were isolated to individual villages, and therefore simply died out.
Alias names
Alias names were created when someone took on two different surnames simultaneously, being known by either or both throughout their lifetime! Find out more here.
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